Implants and methods for performing gingiva and bone augmentation and preservation

Abstract

Embodiments described herein are related to fillers that are placed within an extraction site in need of bone augmentation and preservation. The fillers encourage sufficient new bone growth in order that normal jaw bone deterioration following tooth removal is prevented. The fillers create, arrange, and assemble an ideal growth environment for new bone growth to rapidly grow and preserve the original contours of an individual's jaw bone. Further embodiments described herein are related to dental implants that are arranged to provide a scaffold upon which a damaged or missing dental papilla may regrow. The dental implants may include a micro-pattern to facilitate directional cell growth.

1. A dental implant for regrowing a damaged or missing papilla, the dental implant comprising:
 a body comprising a micro-pattern that is sized to allow cells of the gums to grow directionally within the micro-pattern; and 
 an anchor coupled to the body for anchoring the dental implant in a patient's jaw, where the anchor comprises a plurality of holes to facilitate bone growth through the anchor. 
 
     
     
       2. The dental implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a triangular shape. 
     
     
       3. The dental implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a coating on which the micro-pattern is formed. 
     
     
       4. The dental implant of  claim 3 , wherein the coating is a biodegradable polymer. 
     
     
       5. The dental implant of  claim 1 , wherein the micro-pattern comprises a plurality of troughs and/or ridges. 
     
     
       6. The dental implant of  claim 1 , wherein the micro-pattern comprises a plurality of micro-tubes. 
     
     
       7. The dental implant of  claim 1 , wherein the micro-pattern comprises a plurality of columns arranged on an area of the body to be arranged within a gum line of a patient to increase the adhesion of the gums to the body. 
     
     
       8. The dental implant of  claim 7 , wherein the micro-pattern further comprises a plurality of troughs, ridges, and/or micro-tubes arranged on a portion of the body designed to extend beyond the gum line. 
     
     
       9. The dental implant of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor comprises a screw. 
     
     
       10. A method of inserting a dental implant for regrowing a damaged or missing papilla, the method comprising:
 providing a dental implant comprising: 
 a body comprising a micro-pattern that is sized to allow cells of the gums to grow directionally within the micro-pattern, where the micro-pattern comprises a plurality of troughs, ridges, and/or microtubes, and 
 an anchor coupled to the body for anchoring the dental implant in a patient's jaw; and 
 inserting the anchor into a patient's jaw between two teeth such that the body is located partially within a gum line and partially extending outside of the gum line into an area in which the gums are to be regrown. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the body comprises a coating on which the micro-pattern is formed. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the coating is a biodegradable polymer. 
     
     
       13. A method of inserting a dental implant for regrowing a damaged or missing papilla, the method comprising:
 providing a dental implant comprising:
 a body comprising a micro-pattern that is sized to allow cells of the gums to grow directionally within the micro-pattern, where the micro-pattern comprises a plurality of columns arranged on an area of the body arranged within the to increase the adhesion of the gums to the body, and 
 an anchor coupled to the body for anchoring the dental implant in a patient's jaw; 
 
 inserting the anchor into a patient's jaw between two teeth such that the body is located partially within a gum line and partially extending outside of the gum line into an area in which the gums are to be regrown.